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Personality influences tetanus‐specific antibody response in adult male rhesus macaques after removal from natal group and housing relocation
Author(s) -
Maninger Nicole,
Capitanio John P.,
Mendoza Sally P.,
Mason William A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.10111
Subject(s) - immunization , relocation , toxoid , immune system , tetanus , immunology , booster dose , antibody , biology , vaccination , psychology , computer science , programming language
Previous research has suggested that personality is related to immune function in macaques. Using a prospective design, we examined whether variation in the personality dimension “Sociability” in adult male rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) was related to the in vivo secondary antibody response to a tetanus toxoid booster immunization following removal from natal groups and relocation to individual housing. We also explored whether the timing of the immunization following relocation had an impact on the immune response. Blood was sampled at the time of booster immunization, at 14 and 28 days post‐immunization, and approximately 9 months post‐immunization. Plasma was assayed for tetanus‐specific IgG by enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA). There was no difference between High‐ and Low‐Sociable animals in antibody levels at the time of the booster immunization. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that High‐Sociable animals had a significantly higher antibody response following relocation and immunization compared to Low‐Sociable animals. There was no effect of timing of the immunization on the immune response. The results confirm that personality factors can affect animals' immune responses, and that the dimension Sociability may be influential in a male's response to social separation and relocation. Am. J. Primatol. 61:73–83, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.